THE 10 BEST READS FROM 100

1. Easy by Tammara Webber 5/5

Summary:

Rescued by a stranger.

Haunted by a secret

Sometimes, love isn’t easy…

He watched her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…

The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.

Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of love.

I loved this book and quite easily it became one of my favorite. The characters are lovable and the plot while predictable and easy to understand is rather deep as well. We go through a journey of the pains of first love, the problem of rape in today’s society and the way to deal with it, childhood scars, hope, renewed love, lies, death, drugs and so many more. It makes you simply fall in love with the book since most likely it’ll resonate within each one of us one way or another. I give it a 5/5 and recommend it to anyone who wants an easy and heartwarming read.

2. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion 5/5

Summary: ‘R’ is a zombie. He has no name, no memories and no pulse, but he has dreams. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Amongst the ruins of an abandoned city, R meets a girl. Her name is Julie and she is the opposite of everything he knows – warm and bright and very much alive, she is a blast of colour in a dreary grey landscape. For reasons he can’t understand, R chooses to save Julie instead of eating her, and a tense yet strangely tender relationship begins.

This has never happened before. It breaks the rules and defies logic, but R is no longer content with life in the grave. He wants to breathe again, he wants to live, and Julie wants to help him. But their grim, rotting world won’t be changed without a fight…

Never thought I’d love a book about zombies, undead such as vampires yes, zombies never, but this proved me wrong. It’s a pleasing book, as well as fascinating. I got a hold of a copy in which every new chapter an anatomy drawing showed up and I love anatomy, but beyond that this actually made me feel good while reading it. It both makes you think and gives you hope. It’s a new type of apocalyptical reading that is fun, heavy on the plot and doesn’t make you hit your head repeatedly against the wall in frustration. It’s good for everyone really, even for those that hate the gore since it’s not as horrifying as other zombie lit.

3. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones 5/5

Summary: In which a witch bewitched the hatter’s daughter – and then some….

Sophie lived in the town of Market Chipping, which was in Ingary, a land in which anything could happen, and often did – especially when the Witch of the Waste got her dander up. Which was often.

As her younger sisters set out to seek their fortunes, Sophie stayed in her father’s hat shop. Which proved most unadventurous, until the Witch of the Waste came in to buy a bonnet, but was not pleased. Which is why she turned Sophie into an old lady. Which was spiteful witchery.

Now Sophie must seek her own fortune. Which means striking a bargain with the lecherous Wizard Howl. Which means entering his ever-moving castle, taming a blue fire-demon, and meeting the Witch of the Waste head-on. Which was more than Sophie bargained for….

This is a classic. I mean everyone has to know the movie and if you don’t, you missed something amazing. The movie is great, but I might prefer the book more, if only just for the fact that their character is sketch at a deeper level. Especially that of the wizard Howl, who is very much that of an incurable playboy. The movie made me think he was adorable as a guy and a want-to-have boyfriend, but not the book. It brought more light to his character and I would so want to avoid guys like that. The book is a classic. It’s fun and easy to read and it would certainly bring a smile and a laugh to the most uptight of people.

4. Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Eliezer Yudkowsky/Less Wrong 4.5/5

Summary: Petunia married a biochemist, and Harry grew up reading science and science fiction. Then came the Hogwarts letter, revealing a world of intriguing new possibilities to exploit. And new friends, like Hermione, and Professor McGonagall, and Professor Quirrell… Ch. 87, ‘Hedonic Awareness’. The further trials of Hermione Granger.

For all those who love Harry Potter and his adventures, this shows us a new hidden side to the world of the little hero, a more scientific one. While we loved reading the books and learning about Harry’s hidden adventures, we never really thought deeper about some of the issues the story has. We wanted to practice magic too, yes, but have we ever thought about how a spell was invented or who created it, obviously it didn’t appear out of thin air. Also, have we ever thought about mixing magic and muggleness. This person here, our dear Eliezer has and oh the journey is a dozy, a Rowling worthy one. Plus it’s a fanfic and it’s free to read. Amazing lit and free, what more can anyone want?

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5782108/1/Harry-Potter-and-the-Methods-of-Rationality

5. How to be popular by Meg Cabot 4/5

Summary: Do you want to be popular?

Everyone wants to be popular or at least, Stephanie Landry does. Steph’s been the least popular girl in her class since a certain cherry Super Big Gulp catastrophe five years earlier.

Does being popular matter?

It matters very much to Steph. That’s why this year, she has a plan to get in with the It Crowd in no time flat. She’s got a secret weapon: an old book called what else? “How to Be Popular.”

What does it take to be popular?

All Steph has to do is follow the instructions in The Book, and soon she’ll be partying with the It Crowd (including school quarterback Mark Finley) instead of sitting on The Hill Saturday nights, stargazing with her nerdy best pal Becca, and even nerdier Jason (now kind of hot, but still), whose passion for astronomy Steph once shared.

Who needs red dwarves when you’re invited to the hottest parties in town?

But don’t forget the most important thing about popularity

It’s easy to become popular. What isn’t so easy? Staying that way.

Popularity isn’t what it’s caught up to be, it’s not always as good to be popular as it is to be just a normal high school, but we obviously don’t know that and wish for it with all our might and this is just the book that gives you an insight look in how you can obtain popularity and what are the consequences it brings with you, all packed in a fun and light story curtsey of the Meg Cabot style.

6. The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot 4/5

Summary: Suze is a mediator — a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won’t leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn’t seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.

But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it’s not that easy. There’s a ghost with revenge on her mind … and Suze happens to be in the way.

Another one of Cabot’s masterpieces and another one of my favorites. Mix in ghosts, a mediator and a hunky cowboy from the 19th century and you’ll get a hot and fun read. The whole story is fun and fast pace and the characters are absurdly lovable. But was it just me or were we all actually rooting for the main character and her new hunky brother instead of the ghostly handsome wonder living in her bedroom. Hmm…we’ll have to see what you guys think then won’t we.

7. Vampire Kisses – Royal Blood by Ellen Schreiber 4/5

Summary: Summer break is over, and Raven is hardly eager to be returning to Dullsville High. Not only does school mean daily interaction with preppy pest Trevor Mitchell, but her sleep-filled days and romantic nights with her immortal boyfriend, Alexander, must come to an end. Plus the shock of morning classes isn’t the only change in store.

An unexpected letter turns up at Alexander’s mansion–announcing his parents will be coming to town. And once they arrive, just about everyone has had a sighting of the macabre couple except Raven. What could be delaying Alexander from introducing Raven to them? Could Alexander be hiding something about his parents’ homecoming?

When Raven is finally invited to the most thrilling dinner party of her life, the next turn of events could transform her entire future with Alexander. The sixth book in Ellen Schreiber’s bestselling Vampire Kisses series takes an unusual twist in the continuing romance of Raven and Alexander.

Vampire Kisses is actually an entire series of book, but while it starts out promising it quickly becomes a dud with the forced stretch-out of the entire story. We get it she’s a Goth, he’s a vampire, but she still has family thus can’t go off prancing with her sn boyfriend. Even so, do you have to drag a new family member in each new book, like its more interesting meeting the crew one by one than all at once, face palm, no. In this one, we get to meet the parents and goodness me, I have to admit it was good, majorly so, but once again I found myself rooting for her and the douche bag football star, Trevor. Woe is me, will it ever end?

8. Song of the Lioness Series by Tamora Pierce 4/5

Summary: “From now on I’m Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I’ll be a knight.” And so young Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Though a girl, Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn the art of magic. So one day they decide to switch places: Disguised as a girl, Thom heads for the convent to learn magic; Alanna, pretending to be a boy, is on her way to the castle of King Roald to begin her training as a page.

But the road to knighthood is not an easy one. As Alanna masters the skills necessary for battle, she must also learn to control her heart and to discern her enemies from her allies.

Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna’s first adventure begins — one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and the magical destiny that will make her a legend in her land.

Alanna’s journey continues…         

Knight, adventure, dragons, a cross dressing girl, wait what?! You heard it! Song of the Lioness is a series about a girl wanting to become a knight, a thing that was impossible for a girl back then. When her father sends her and her brother into an apprenticeship to decide their future, she takes her brother place to become a knight, while said brother went on to become a sorcerer. From then on we follow her through her journey from squire to knight, romance, adventure and a bit of thieving. Hah, good for both males and females. It really made my day this one.

9. On Dublin Street by Samantha Young 4.5/5

Summary: Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…

Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.

Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.

But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.

Oooh, Scottish romance. Nothing beats a good day than curling up on the sofa with a good romance book in your lap. While it frustrates you a little bit, no one can say that this book is not well written or that the story doesn’t draw you in. Quite the contrary. You’ll love everything about it, from the main character, to her bubbly roommate to the oh so virile Scottish hunk. It’s all here. Combine with it a bit of drama and angst and voila you have a romantic masterpiece. It literally burns!

10. The Selection by Kiera Cass 4.5/5         

Summary: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself–and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

In a dystopian future, humans are separated into classes based on their occupation and skills. Our heroin is someone who is in love with a guy from a lower class than her own, which would obviously put her in said class if she ever married him. It’s not much of a wonder when both her mum and boyfriend push her into the selection for the prince’s bride, but dude she loved you, did you have to push her into something she obviously didn’t want. From then on the entire book reminds me of the TV show “The Bachelor”. A great fun read, until we see her ex come back as a guard in the castle and still unable to forget about her, cliffhanger for book 2, so frustrating!